January 5 edition by The Island News

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JANUARY 5 - 11, 2017

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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY

First baby of 2017 born at Beaufort Memorial

Longtime public servants retire By Kat Walsh

203 Carteret Street | Beaufort | 843.379.0052 | breakwatersc.com

Proud parents Leayn Barber and Larry Kaczowka, of Port Royal, welcomed their new son, John Lance Barber-Kaczowka on Jan 1. The little guy arrived at 7:32 a.m. making him the first baby born in Beaufort County in the new year. The baby, who has one big sister Layn, was delivered at the hospital's Collins Birthing Center by Dr. Marlena Mattingly of Beaufort Memorial OB/GYN Specialists, weighing in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces. Photo by Charlotte Berkeley of Charlotte Berkeley Photography.

City: 2016 was year of progress for Beaufort Editor’s note: The following was provided by the city of Beaufort. From opening a new fire station to kicking off construction on Boundary Street to opening the long-awaited Southside dog park to launching an incubator for technology companies, progress was the key word for Beaufort in 2016. “After months and sometimes years of planning and review, it was refreshing to be able to open the new fire house on Ribaut Road to improve our fire department’s efficiency. On the other end, in December it was great to see all the families and pets enjoying the dog park,” Beaufort

City Manager Bill Prokop said. “We have another year of work on Boundary Street, but that team has done an exceptional job of keeping the project on track and within budget,” he said. “While that work goes on, our city’s economy has a brighter future with our new incubator partnerships.” The economy Much of the city’s work in 2016 – and before – focused on economic revitalization and growth. The Beaufort Digital Corridor is an offshoot of the successful Charleston Digital Corridor. Located at 500 Carteret St., the re-

MANY BENEFITS OF EXERCISE From making you feel happier to slowing the aging process, exercise offers many benefits. PAGE B1

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modeled office space targets small businesses focused on technology. Another spinoff is the city’s branch of the Don Ryan Center of Innovation, based in Bluffton. The incubator will be housed in the first floor of Beaufort City Hall and will assist non-technology businesses in starting up. Both business incubators have ribbon-cuttings scheduled for January and Prokop said he expects both will be busy in short order. “Between our preserved history and our protected environment, we have the ability to attract small and new businesses, especially those in the knowl-

BIATHALON TO RETURN Hurricane Matthew isn't stopping the Sea Island Rotary from bringing the community its annual race. PAGE B3

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edge sector,” he said. “Sometimes all they need is a guiding hand to get started, and that’s what the Beaufort Digital Corridor and Don Ryan Center will provide.” The anticipated opening of the new Walmart within the city limits on Lady’s Island and a new car dealership on Robert Smalls Parkway will bring additional jobs and revenues to the city. Highlights of 2016 include: • Construction started in early 2016 on the $32 million Boundary Street Improvement Corridor. The work includes moving overhead power and commuSee PROGRESS, page A7

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Two local politicians are retiring after a combined 80 years of serving the public. George O’Kelley will step down after being on the Beaufort City Council for almost 40 years, while William “Bill” McBride, a Beaufort County Council member, also steps down after 40 years in office. George O’Kelley Beaufort would look and feel very different these days were it not for O’Kelley. As he steps down from Beaufort City Council after almost 40 years, he leaves behind a Beaufort quite unlike the one he first began serving as a council member in 1979. “George has always been a voice for Beaufort,” Mayor Billy Keyserling said. In doing what he always thought best for the city, O’Kelley has had to occasionally take unpopular positions or argue against the majority. It’s the nature of the position, and O’Kelley takes it in stride. “I suppose the citizens will have to judge if I aided or helped BeauGeorge fort,” O’Kelley O’Kelley said. “I will say I cherish my years of service and hope I was a positive influence." In his nearly four decades on the Beaufort City Council, O’Kelley has done everything from selecting the design of the Government Center to authoring legislation against smoking in city restaurants and texting while driving. And as a downtown businessman since 1975, he was one of the first to join the effort to revitalize Beaufort when shops were closing right and left. While much of his life has been spent helping the city and citizens of Beaufort, he is not a native son. O’Kelley came to Beaufort by way of Vietnam. After attending the Citadel, he graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1968, right around the same time the draft began. So instead of joining a law firm, O’Kelley joined the Marine Corps, attending the Platoon Leaders Class program in

See RETIRE page A7